Irvine itself is a master-planned city, so it should come as no surprise that ‘the Center of Orange County’ is home to numerous master-planned communities. If you’re shopping for a new home that comes with a host of onsite recreational amenities — think outdoor pools, hiking trails, barbecue areas and the like — then you’ll want to check out the new developments in these three Irvine master-planned communities.
1. Orchard Hills
Backing onto an avocado orchard (no word on whether you can pick them for free), Orchard Hills is a master-planned community featuring three private parks, two swimming pools, a tot lot, and a five-mile trail system. Residents live moments away from the Orchard Hills Shopping Center, offering a grocery store, pharmacies, coffee shops, a yoga studio, medical offices and more. Plus, Northwood High School, ranked in the top 10 percent of schools nationwide, is within walking distance of Orchard Hills. New home developments that are now selling in Orchard Hills include Como, Cetara, Ravello, Lago, Terra, Verdi, and Vivo.
2. Portola Springs Village
Portola Springs Village is a sprawling, family-friendly community designed for outdoor recreation. There are more than 15 parks, complete with sports fields, playgrounds, swimming pools, barbecue and picnic areas, club rooms and grassy lawns. The vast network of open space also includes 20 miles of winding trails. Nearby attractions include Irvine Spectrum Center, Woodbury Town Center, Cypress Village Shopping Center, and Orchard Hills Shopping Center. Prospective buyers can browse new single-family homes within developments like Highland, Hillside and Bluffs.
3. Great Park Neighborhoods
The Great Park Neighborhoods are inspired by nature, touting beautiful gardens, playgrounds, swimming pools, greenhouses, community terraces, a dog park, outdoor kitchen, treehouse lookout, and much, much more. Adjacent to the Orange County Great Park and within walking or biking distance to three IUSD schools, this collection of new home developments is not to be missed. The latest ‘park neighborhood’ to take shape is Rise, featuring single-family and townhomes projects like Ascent, Launch, Apex, Evergreen and Atlas.
